| School – Colgate |
| Conference – Patriot League |
| Coach – Erik Ronning (11th Season) |
| Background – Colgate was 6-10-2 overall last year with a 2-6-2 mark in league play. The Raiders have earned a spot in the Patriot League Tournament field for eight of the last ten seasons. They won the league title in 1992, 1997, 2007, 2008, and 2011. The Raiders returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 for the first time in forty-one years. They also earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2011. Forward Ethan Kutler was named to the 2014 All-Patriot League First-Team. |
| Offense – Junior Ethan Kutler who scored twelve goals and contributed seven assists last year returns to power the Colgate attack. Kutler's role in the Raider's offense is relected in the fact that he was involved in nineteen of the twenty-one goals that Colgate scored last year. Junior Zach Pagani (2g, 2a) and senior Rick Rizzo (1g, 0a) are among other returning players who Erik Ronning will likely look to for additional scoring punch up-top. Abdel Sanogo who played for the Dallas Texans and Uyiosa Omorogbe who played for Shattuck St. Mary's are among the newcomers who have the potential to contribute to the attack up-top right away. Senior Tyler Forbes (1g, 0a) who has been a starter since arriving on campus as a freshman returns to anchor the midfield and set the pace for the team in the attacking midfielder role. Outside midfielders sophomores Jared Stroud (1g, 3a) and Troy Moo-Penn (1g, 1a) return with the benefit of a year of starting experience under their belts. Junior Colin O'Neill adds stability as the defensive center midfielder. Freshman midfielder Tim Oberg out of the DC United Academy is among the members of the recriting class who should compete for minutes from the get-go. |
| Defense – Junior Zach Tamen (0g, 2a), who has been a starter for the past two seasons, returns to anchor the back line. He will be joined by sophomores Bruno Scodari and Chase Pagani who gained valuable experience last year. Freshman Aram Ouligian is among the newcomers who has the size and the athletic ability to compete for playing time as a center back right away. Junior Nick Brown, who has been the starter in goal for the past two years, returns to give the Raiders an experienced presence between the pipes. |
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Newcomers – Three Star Recruiting Class Coach Ronning stated, "I am so thrilled these young men are now a part of the Colgate Soccer family. All of them possess the qualities necessary to make them successful on the field, in the classroom and in the community at Colgate." Jeremy Arnold – Midfielder – Kingston, Ontario – Regiopolis Notre Dame High School – Played for Ottawa Fury. Ryan Bellavance – Midfielder – Medfield, Massachusettss – The Rivers School – Played for FC Blazers. Steven DeLeo – Forward – Acton, Massachusetts – Acton-Boxborough High School – Played for FC Blazers Matthew Glick – Defender – Santa Monica, California – Harvard Westlake High School – Played for Santa Monica United. Oliver Harris – Midfielder – Chappaqua, New York – Horace Greeley High School – Played for FC Westchester USSF Academy. Neeraj Mahey – Goalkeeper – Acton, Massachusetts – St. Mark's School – Played for Boston Bolts Celtic. Tim Oberg – Midfielder – Bethesda, Maryland – Sidwell Friends School – Played for DC United USSF Academy. Uyiosa Omorogbe – Forward – Niskayuna, New York – Shattuck St. Mary's – Played for Shattuck St. Mary's USSF Academy Aram Ouligian – Defender – Needham, Massachusetts – Needham High School – FC Blazers Abdel Sanogo – Forward – Plano, Texas – Plano West High School – Played for Dallas Texans USSF Academy. Henry Shafer – Goalkeeper – Chadds Ford, Pa. – Unionville High School – Played for Kirkwood Academy. Benjamin Snider – Forward – Clarkston, Michigan – Clarkston High School – Played for Crew Academy Wolves USSF Academy. |
| Prognosis for 2015 – After a total of four wins in 2013 and six wins in 2014, the Raiders look to be well positioned to significantly up their overall win total in 2015 and compete for the Patriot League title. Ten starters are slated to return from the 2014 team. Forward Tanner Schilling (0g, 1a) who was a three year starter and team captain is the lone starter lost due to graduation. The Raiders have had a lot of freshmen and sophomores in key roles over the past two seasons. The experience they have gained should begin to pay dividends in 2015. Colgate looks to be a very athletic and skilled team with a lot of depth heading into the 2015 season. There will likely be a lot of pressure on junior forward Ethan Kutler to repeat as the go-to guy on the offensive side of the ball. The emergence of another goal scorer or two would reduce some of the pressure and add much needed balance to the attack. Junior forward Zach Pagani or perhaps one of the new recruits may fill that role. The midfield led by senior Tyler Forbes and the defense led by junior back Zach Tamen and junior goalkeeper Nick Brown should be stronger than last year. Inconsistency linked in part to inexperience has hampered the Raiders during the past two seasons. If Colgate can avoid the costly lapses in play, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, that have hurt them in the past then they should begin to win the close contests in 2015 that have eluded them. |
